Men’s Lacrosse Helmets. The NCAA has been informed by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) that two lacrosse helmet models currently available in the marketplace, the Cascade Model R and the Warrior Regulator, do not meet the applicable NOCSAE helmet standard, ND041. Accordingly, NOCSAE has voided the manufacturers’ NOCSAE certification for each of those two models, effective immediately.

NCAA men’s lacrosse rules require that helmets meet NOCSAE standards to qualify as permissible equipment for NCAA competition. Accordingly, in light of NOCSAE’s decision, the Cascade Model R and the Warrior Regulator models may not be used in NCAA-sanctioned competition, unless and until the manufacturers develop and implement a NOCSAE-approved fix to render the certification valid. Furthermore, because the NOCSAE certification is widely recognized as a minimal standard for lacrosse helmet safety, the NCAA recommends that these helmets not be used for any lacrosse activity, including practice and recreational events. Click here to read the full NOCSAE release.

NCAA Innovations Grant Winners to Present Their Projects at the 2015 Convention. In 2014 the NCAA awarded $100,000 in grant funding to six research projects and pilot programs designed to enhance student-athlete psychosocial well-being and mental health. The potential to result in campus-level programming that could be adopted or adapted at a range of member institutions across the three divisions was a key criterion for receiving an Innovations in Research and Practice grant. Join us Thursday afternoon, January 15, at the 2015 Convention for a session showcasing these six projects and gain valuable resources to bring back to your Division III campus. Click here for more details.

Regional Rules Seminars. NCAA Constitution 3.2.4.15 (Convention and Regional Rules Seminar attendance) requires all NCAA Division III institutions to attend the NCAA Regional Rules Seminar at least once in every three years. Any institution that did not send a representative in 2013 or 2014, should plan to be in attendance at the 2015 Regional Rules Seminars. Registration will be available in March 2015.

For your convenience, below are the dates and locations for the upcoming Regional Rules Seminars for the 2014-15 academic year.

May 11-14, 2015, in Indianapolis; and

June 8-11, 2015, in Denver

Questions about the Regional Rules Seminars should be directed to the academic and membership affairs staff or reg ionalrules@ncaa.org .